GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUGAR BEET TO BE GROWN IN IRELAND IMAGINE IF SUGAR HAD THE FOLLOWING HEALTH WARNING: " This sugar was made using genetically modified sugar beet. The long term effects of eating this are unknown, but it may contain allergens and toxins not found naturally in sugar."

In January, due to U.S. pressure, the European Parliament decided to allow Genetically Engineered (G.E.) food to be sold without labeling. The only way to know if your food has G.E. ingredients is to ask the European Commission if it's on their register.

Genetic engineering involves the transfer of hereditary material (DNA or RNA) from one or more organisms to another organism, in a way that cannot be achieved by natural methods of mating or cross- breeding.

Proponents of genetic engineering argue that this is merely a continuation of work done by humans for thousands of years to improve crops and livestock, by crossing for example, similar plants and replanting the seeds of the best offspring.

But the technology of recombinant DNA allows humans to cross the line's nature draws. The new science allows people to introduce genetic material from a cat into a dog to get a cross, or human genes into pigs, animal cells into plants and resistant genes into non-resistant genes.

No-one can accurately predict the outcome of this genetic tampering. Genetic structures have evolved over many millennia, the repercussions of suddenly altering these cannot be predicted.

37 people died and 1,500 were disabled in the U.S. in 1989 as a result of consuming a genetically modified health food, Tryptophan, which contained a previously unknown toxin.


Consider these facts:
  • Monsanto, the US multinational, has developed a genetically engineered soya bean. They own the patent on this product.
  • Soya is contained in 60% of all processed food.
  • They don't have to tell you if their "Roundup Ready Soya" is present or not.
  • Recently the New York State advertising authority censured Monsanto strongly by forcing them to remove ads claiming that their Soya, treated with the herbicide "Roundup" was perfectly safe and healthy.

    One individual in the Irish horticultural profession I spoke with had this to say about Roundup:

    "There were two of us working downwind from the orchard where Roundup was being sprayed around the base of apple trees to kill weeds, for the following few days we both had flu like symptoms. It was the only time that just two of the 80 people working got a flu and it didn't spread. I do believe it was Roundup poisoning and not the flu."

    Monsanto also make genetically engineered sugar beet and applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (see the case of the EPA's blatant ignoring of scientific advice on December 16th 1996 for permission to conduct planting trials in counties Cork, Kilkenny and Carlow. From the company's point of view it provides farmers with effective weed control, as the entire g.e. sugar beet crop is tolerant to having Roundup sprayed on it . Guess who makes Roundup......Yes, Monsanto plc. Makes Roundup.

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears to be working in a veil of secrecy on this one and have refused to make public the names of those responsible for planning, carrying out , supervising, monitoring and ensuring the safety of the experiment on the grounds that it will compromise Monsanto's intellectual copyright.

    An EPA spokesman told me a decision will be made within ninety days of the licence application and added that if the trials go ahead, the sugar beet will not be sold for consumption, but that further tests will be conducted on that crop. According to the Cork Environmental Alliance, "the secrecy with which the EPA is approaching the experiment leads one to believe that the commercial considerations of Monsanto are given precedence over the health concerns of the public." They go on to say, "food producers, retailers and consumers must call on the Government for a moratorium on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms in advance of any decision of the Environmental Protection Agency.

    Sugar is in almost all foods, this issue affects us all. Is it too much to demand a full open public debate on the issue and demand that we be told whether our food is genetically engineered or not ? I don't think so.

    Are you outraged? Voice your outrage to:

  • Ministers Howlin (Environment),
  • Yates (Agriculture),
  • Noonan (Health ) Dail Eireann, Kildare St., Dublin 2..
  • The Environmental Protection Agency H.Q., Co. Wexford. Tel. 053-47120.

    For more info on genetic engineering and Monsanto Plc.'s g.e. sugar beet plans contact: Cork Environmental Alliance, 34 Princes St, Cork. Tel.- 021 272277. Fax- 021 274525





    Contents
    Irish Life LockoutThe real story of Temple BarFighting toxic waste in Clare
    Report from Mexico's ZapatistasGreenpeace Ireland is threatened with closure....From CATALYST magazine: Genetic engineering in Ireland
    Who we areWhat's new?Press cuttings